Notice sent to members: Sept 26, 2025
Island businesses woke up to a full Canada Post shutdown after the Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) launched a national strike last night. Canada Post has confirmed that mail and parcel services are halted for the duration of the stoppage, with some post offices closed and service guarantees suspended.
Why now? Ottawa announced reforms intended to stabilize Canada Post’s finances—most notably phasing out door-to-door delivery for most households and moving further to community mailboxes—changes CUPW says threaten jobs and service quality. Negotiations remain strained.
What this means for businesses
- Shipping & e-commerce: Expect delays and failed hand-offs for inbound and outbound Canada Post parcels.
- Letters, invoices, cheques: Regular mail is not moving.
- Government/critical mail: During past disruptions, some socio-economic cheques were prioritized, but Canada Post has now suspended guarantees; plan as if nothing moves.
What we’re watching
- Talks and timelines: Canada Post signaled “new global offers” were being prepared to move negotiations forward, but the union proceeded with strike action; there’s no firm timeline to resolution yet.
- Scope of reforms: The government’s plan to end most door-to-door delivery and slow some services is driving the standoff; any compromise here will shape the post-strike operating model.
As always, we’re partnered with our national counterparts urging for a swift, negotiated resolution that protects reliable, affordable delivery for small business.
With warm regards,
